Teapot-strainer.



UNITED STATES Patented. August 16, 1904.

PATE T OFFICE.

TEAPOT-STRAINER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 767,471, dated August 16, 1904.

Application filed October 9, 1903.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUSTA FLORENCE BAR- NET'[, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at 16 Norfolk road, Seven Kings, in the county of Essex, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Teapot-Strainers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved teapot-strainer for preventing the passage of tea leaves or dust into the teacup when pouring out the tea into the latter, thus providing a clear and pure cup of tea.

The improved strainer consists of a coil of wire suitably shaped or tapered toward its lower end so that the same may be easily inserted or passed into the spout of the teapot. The said coilterminates at its upper end in a hook for engaging with the upper part of the lip or spout and holding the same in place. Two or three or more of the coils at the upper end of the device may be wound around with fine wire, so as to partly close the said end, and thus to give increased resistance to and to effectually stop the passage of the tealeaves from the spout.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a side view of my improved strainer; and Fig. 2 shows the same, a to a smaller scale, fitted to the spout of a teapot. Figs. 3 and I are slightly-modified forms of the device. I

a is the wire coil, which is tapered to a point at its lower end a, so that the same may be readily inserted in the spout b of the teapot. This coil forms practically a hollow plug, the coils at the end a of which being close together and leaving only a small opening at the end prevents the escape therethrough of the smallest tea-leaves, but permits of the free passage of the liquid. The coils at the top or outer end are of a diameter to fit into or lightly press against the internal diameter of the spout b ofthe teapot, as shown in Fig. 2, and the wire forming the coil is bent or shaped to the form of a hook c, the wire being doubled or folded to increase the strength of the same. This hook acts as a spring-clip to engage with Serial No. 176,436. (No model.)

the upper part d of the lip or spout I), so as tohold the coil securely in place.

In order to increase the straining properties of the said plug, two or three or more of the upper or outer coils of the same may themselves be coiled around with light wire 6. This acts as a kind of strainer or cap to the plug, stopping the passage of any tea leaves or dust which may have passed through or between the coils of the plug, but permitting of the free escape of the liquid. The plug may be readily removed for freeing the same of deposits and fixed in position again.

In the modified form of plug shown in Fig. 3 the same consists of a short conical coil f, the ends of the wire projecting outward at an angle from the apex to form two spring-arms g, which by their pressure against the inside of the spout hold the plug in place.

In the form of plug shown in Fig. 4 the conical end of the same terminates in the hooked end it for engaging with the spout of the teapot, the plug in this instance lying or being held in a reverse position to those previously described.

Having now fully described the nature of my said invention, what Iclaim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The improved teapot-strainer consisting of a wire coil or plug formed with a conical end for'insertion into the lip or spout of the teapot, substantially as described.

2. The improved teapot-strainer consisting of a wire coil or plug formed with a conical lower end and terminating at its upper end with a hook for clipping the same to the lip or spout of the teapot, substantially as described.

3. In a teapot-strainer comprising a coiled wire plug the combination therewith of light wire coiled around the upper coils of the same, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in 'the presence of two witnesses.

AUGUSTA FLORENCE BARNETT. Witnesses:

P. WYNTER ROBINSON, WILLIAM JOHN DUIGAIN. 

